***** He [General Johnston] became satisfied that it was the intention of the government to take possession of the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and to use it, of course, in operating against him. Determined to defeat the execution of this purpose if possible, he collected all the locomotives within his reach, amounting to forty-eight in all, and totally destroyed them for present use, by building fires around them. It is said that some of the locomotives may be put in order again at an outlay of $3,000 each, but it is doubtful whether they can ever be used again. They were worth, on an average, $8,000 each, and the total loss on them cannot be less than $375,000. Seven large passenger cars, in complete order, were also burned at the same time; also ninety-two platform cars, such as could be easily fitted up for the transportation of 100 soldiers each. The coal cars, of which there were 160 at that point, are made of iron, and were all full of coal. The coal was unloaded and used to feed the fires, and many of the cars were precipitated down embankments. The total value of the property destroyed cannot be less than $425,000, and the officers of the company in this city estimate it at half a million of dollars. The agent of the road was at Martinsburg at the time, and is now in this city. When he saw the preparations for the conflagration he went to Gen Johnston, and made use of every argument in his power to induce him to forego his purpose, but in vain.